GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Indians' manager Manny Acta officially announced Monday what everyone pretty much suspected. Fausto Carmona will make his first Opening Day start April 1 against the White Sox at Progressive Field.

And, no, there won't be any April Fool's trickery.

"He deserves it," Acta said Monday after a 12-0 rout of the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. "I think he [showed maturity] through the season last year by the fact he was able to keep his composure through the whole year.

"He stayed in the moment and pitched well. I think he's here to stay now."

Acta wasn't referring to Carmona staying in the big leagues. He meant Carmona has hopefully moved beyond his inconsistency on the mound. He has yet to put together consecutive strong seasons, but his improved composure in 2010 is the reason for optimism.

After his breakout 19-8 season in 2007, Carmona finished 8-7 in 2008 and 5-12 in 2009. A year ago, he was 13-14 with a 3.77 earned run average. He made 33 starts and pitched 210 innings. He was better emotionally and technically. A move to the left side of the rubber helped him pitch to both sides of the plate.

"It made it much easier to pitch to left-handers," Carmona said. "Before I was opening up too much."

Carmona pitched two scoreless innings in his spring training debut Monday. Acta raved about him attacking the strike zone. First-pitch strikes is the mantra. Believing is one thing. Achieving is another.

"My mechanics feel much better," Carmona said.

After his outing, he was asked about the possibility of pitching Opening Day. "I want to," Carmona said. "But I'm not going to think about it."

Now, it's official. Not that it was ever in serious doubt.

Cashing in for Buck: The Oakland A's made outfielder Travis Buck a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds in the 2005 draft. He broke camp with them for four consecutive seasons from 2007-2010.

"Travis has always been an interesting guy," Acta said after Buck collected three hits, including a solo home run against the Reds. "This organization has liked him for a while. And this is a guy that back to back years was handed an Opening Day job by the A's.

"He's just had some injuries in the past. He's healthy right now. He's a guy we're going to give plenty of opportunity in camp to find out if he can be a piece for us."

Setback for Reyes:Anthony Reyes, who missed 2010 recovering from reconstructive surgery in 2009, experienced soreness in his elbow and will shut it down for a few days.

"We just want to be on the safe side," the 29-year-old Reyes said. "They said flare-ups are going to happen."

Reyes was examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Arizona. "The ligament is still good," Reyes said.

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